Tunisia to rebuild road routes

Tunisia has major plans to upgrade its road network, with work due to commence in 2016. The Tunisian Government has said it intends to modernise 718km of roads across the country. The aim is to widen roads to 7.6m so that they meet international standards. The scheme will cover 21 governorates. Five national roads will be upgraded with a total distance of 105km, while 20 regional roads covering a distance of 320km will be updated. The project will also improve 20 local roads with a total distance of 294km. Plans are also in hand for a 7.3km bypass around Thala as well as 23 structures to avoid flooding during the rainy season. A loan of US$209.17 million from the African Development Bank will help fund the work, which will complete road upgrading schemes started at the end of the 1990s. The funds will also help finance studies focussing on improving the management of roads in the country.